Where in the World Archives - Page 4 of 5

Iceland

Iceland is a large island nation in the northern Atlantic Ocean. It was originally settled by the Norse (vikings) in the 9th century. Irish monks came in the previous century, but did not stay. The vikings moved to Iceland because their home of Norway didn’t have enough farmland to support the population and this caused wars. Iceland was completely empty so these first inhabitants could live on whatever land they wanted. The current republic was founded in 1944 and it is governed by a parliament and a president. • The capital is Reykjavik, which is the world’s northernmost capital city. • The population is 317,000. • The money is called the Krona. • School is free for everyone in Iceland — all the way through college. • Foxes are the only mammal native to Iceland. • Iceland was ruled by Denmark for 500 years. • The highest point is 2,110 meters and it is called Hvannadalshnukur. • Only 1 percent of the land is farmable. • The Vatnajokull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe. • In June and July the sun never sets. • Handball is one of the most popular sports. • Skyr is a very popular snack. It is like yogurt, but it is actually cheese. • 11 percent of the country is covered in ice. • It is common to believe in elves and trolls. • The three colors of the flag represent the elements of the nation. Red is volcanic fire, white is for snow, blue is the ocean. One of the most unique aspects of Iceland is its volcanic activity, which is created by the Earth’s tectonic plates colliding near the island. There are around 200 volcanoes on the island. But even more amazing is the geothermal energy that the volcanic activity provides. Geothermal energy is created when the hot magma from the many volcanoes on the island heat the underground water reservoirs to high temperatures and create huge amounts of steam. Power plants, homes and restaurants then use the energy from the steam to create power and often to cook. Eighty-five percent of Iceland’s energy is produced from geothermal energy, which is a renewable resource and good for the environment. When the heated water is on the surface of the planet, it creates a hot spring, which people often bath in because the minerals in the warm water are thought to be great for health.

Where in the World

Bangor, Maine?

Bangor, Maine, was first settled by Europeans in 1769. The effort was led by Jacob Buswell and the town was originally named Condeskeag Plantation. It was a small settlement made of just 12 families, a sawmill, a store and a school. The town survived the American Revolution and the War of 1812 and was a center for anti-slavery politics before the Civil War. In the 19th century when one of the major resources that America harvested was lumber, Bangor was known as the “Lumber Capital of the World.” It was a hugely successful lumber port. All of the logs harvested in the surrounding forests, for miles around, were fed through the rivers and driven through Bangor. Then they were sold to help build the big cities like Boston and New York. Businessmen in Bangor owned most of the surrounding forests where all of the lumber came from. They used their wood and the massive amounts of money it created to build huge beautiful houses that still stand today. Currently, Bangor is still a very important city in Maine and in the northeast. The historic nature of the city makes it popular for tourists. There are many museums, old houses and landmarks to visit and enjoy. Bangor is also surrounded by beautiful forests so there are many outdoor activities to enjoy, as well. It is a 90-minute drive from Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park and the Moosehead Lake Region. Inside the city there is also all the fun of a thriving northeastern town. There is art and culture, such as Bangor Symphony Orchestra, which is the oldest continually operating symphony orchestra in the United States, founded in 1896. The town is an incredible combination of modern and historic. MORE about Bangor, Maine… • The local Native American tribe were the Penobscots • The town was called Sunbury in 1787 • It was renamed Bangor in 1790 • The name Bangor comes from a popular hymn about the American Revolution • It has been called “Maine’s Queen City” since 1834 • Most of Boston and New York were built using lumber harvested from Maine • The total area of the city is 34.26 square miles • There are many museums in Bangor that record the long history of the city such as the Police Museum, Fire Museum and Cole Land Transportation Museum • Paul Bunyan is an American folktale about a logger, there is a statue of him in Bangor • Many of the houses are on the National Register of Historic Places

Where in the World

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. wasn’t always the capital of the United States. In order for a city to be considered the capital, it has to be the meeting place for the U.S. Congress. The first city was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That began with the First Continental Congress in 1774, and lasted until the first meeting under the Articles of Confederation in 1783. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress met in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1783, Annapolis, Maryland, until 1784, and New York City until 1789. The modern United States was formed after the Articles of Confederation dissolved and the United States Constitution was written and ratified. The first capital in this new government was New York City until 1790. It then moved back to Philadelphia until 1800. Finally, in 1800, Washington D.C. was made the capital of the United States and it has remained the capital ever since. Here are some facts about Washington D.C.: • It is the capital of the United States • It is not part of any state or a city, it is a Federal District • It is located between Virginia and Maryland • The city was designed by the French engineer Pierre Charles L’Efant, Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker, a freeborn black man • It is 68 square miles large along the Potomac that was once part of Maryland and Virginia • The official tree is the scarlet oak • George Washington never lived in the White House • Thomas Jefferson was the first president inaugurated inWashington • The White House was set on fire by British troops on August 24, 1814 • The Washington National Cathedral took 83 years to build • The heads of all three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial are located in D.C. • D.C. stands for District of Columbia • It is named after Christopher Columbus • The motto is “ Justitia Omnibus” this is “ justice for all” in Latin • The U.S. Capitol building is the center of the city • In 1878 the original phone number for the White House was 1 • The only President buried in D.C. is Woodrow Wilson • The Library of Congress is the second largest library in the world • D.C.’s first baseball team was the Washington Senators • There are 2,000 animals and 400 different species at the National Zoo

Where in the World

Switzerland

Switzerland is a small land-locked nation famous for its mountains, watches and chocolate. It is about twice the size of New Jersey and is located between France, Italy and Germany. Switzerland is made up of 26 Cantons, which are like states because they have a lot of power to govern themselves. Originally, Switzerland was a union of two states, or Cantons, that were created in 1291. They didn’t become one country until 1815. The Internet is a huge part of society now. It’s hard to even imagine a world without it. It began as just a way to share files in universities and institutes. It was called the World Wide Web (that’s what the www in Internet addresses stands for) and was created by Tim Berners-Le, a British Scientist who worked at CERN. CERN is The European Organization for Nuclear Research. It has the largest particle physics lab in the world and focuses on discovering the tiniest building blocks of the universe. It is located in Switzerland but incredible scientists from all over the world have come here for years to study and work with the amazing instruments like the particle accelerators. Huge discoveries are often made at CERN, perhaps one of the biggest being the creation of the World Wide Web. Below are some interesting facts about Switzerland and the Swiss people. • They have been neutral in all conflicts for almost 200 years • The official name is The Swiss Confederation • The capital is Bern • The official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansch • German is the most commonly spoken language • The currency is the Swiss Franc • The biggest mountain is Dufourspitze or Monte Rosa (15,203 feet tall) • The most famous mountain is the Matterhorn • The largest city is Zürich • There are 1,500 lakes in Switzerland • The largest three lakes are Lake Geneva, Lake Constance and Lake Maggiore • The people of Switzerland eat more chocolate per capita than any other in the world • The tallest mountains in Europe — the Alps — run through Switzerland • The population of Switzerland is 7,800,000 • The mountains in Switzerland help to protect from invasion, but also isolate the country • The longest river in the country is the Rhine • The Red Cross, World Health Organization and International Olympic Committee all have their headquarters in Switzerland

Kids

India

Where in the world is India? India is a unique Asian nation not only because of its people, but also because of its wide variety of terrain. In the North, there is the giant Himalayan mountain range that supports rare animals such as the snow leopard. There is also the Thar Desert that covers 77,000 square miles of land. This desert, though dry, also supports incredible animals such as black bucks. Another amazing ecosystem is a gigantic mangrove forest called the Sundarbans, where tigers, sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles all swim together. India supports more than 65,000 animal species and 12,000 different plant species. Hinduism is the most popular religion in India and is popular all over South Asia, too. It is the world’s third most popular and oldest existing religion. It was first developed in northern India and traces its roots back to Brahminism. It is also not a single religion, but rather describes a way of thinking and the many groups that developed out of the philosophy. Hinduism focuses more on actions rather than belief. And through doing good things, the eternal soul can be released from the cycle of rebirths called reincarnation. The four different paths that Hindus can focus on are knowledge, meditation, devotion and good works. • The capital city is New Delhi. • The currency is the rupee. • It is a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides. • The major religion is Hinduism. • The country gained independence in 1947. • It was ruled by Britain in 1858. • It is officially known as the Republic of India. • The population is more than 1.2 billion people. • The highest mountain is Kanchenjunga, and it is 28,209 ft. tall. • The main languages are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Urdu. • India as ruled by Britain split into the Republic of India and the Republic of Pakistan. • The most popular sport is cricket.

Where in the World

Sweden

Sweden is a European nation that is in the region known as Scandinavia. It is a long but rather thin country bordered by Finland and Norway. It is also connected to Denmark. It is one of the largest nations in Europe by size, but one of the smallest in population. It has only 9 million people. Sweden’s government is a constitutional monarchy. That means that they still have a king, but they also have officials in government that the people elect to the parliament. The king does not have a lot of power; the parliament does. Nature is incredibly important in Sweden. It is a major part of the country and the culture. About 50 percent of the country is covered in forests. It also has about 100,000 lakes and 24,000 islands. The government makes it very easy for the people to access and enjoy the country’s natural beauty. All of the land owned by the government, unless it is in use by the military, is open for free camping and hiking. Also, public transportation makes it easier, cheaper and more environmentally friendly for anyone to see any of the beautiful places in Sweden. Facts about Sweden • It is the third-largest country in the European Union by land. • The capital is Stockholm. • The currency is Krona. • It was the first European nation to have national parks. • Until 1544, the people elected their king. • Companies are legally required to provide workers free massages at work. • Sweden has been neutral for 200 years. • The six official languages are Swedish, Finnish, Yiddish, Sami, Meänkieli and Romani. • Ice hockey and football are the major sports. • The official name is the Kingdom of Sweden. • The Svea were some of the first people to live in Sweden. • The Svea became known as Vikings. • The Swedish people call their country Sverige. • Sverige means “Land of the Svea.” • Sweden is known for the incredible Northern Lights displays that happen every year. • IKEA and Volvo are Swedish companies. • Most Swedish people live in the southern part of the country. • The Samis are an indigenous people in Sweden. • Samis raise reindeer.

Where in the World

Wall St.

Wall Street isn’t just a street; it is an area in New York City that is known as the financial district. Its reputation began with traders gathering and working in the area during the Revolutionary War, and it grew tremendously from there.Now, Wall Street is home to the largest stock exchange in the world, The New York Stock Exchange, and many, many other important financial businesses. It is an important area geographically, financially and politically. Wall Street is called by that name because in 1653, there was actually a wall there. It was a 12-foot-high wooden wall built along the northern edge of the Dutch colony New Amsterdam by Peter Stuyvesant for the Dutch West India Company to protect the colony from the British and other local threats. The Dutch called it de Waal Straat, and even after the British dismantled the wall, the name for the area stuck. Here are some other facts about Wall Street: • Wall St. is eight blocks from Broadway to South Street and is about a half mile long. • It is the second-largest Global Financial Center in the World; London is first. • Trading begins every morning at 9:30 a.m. with an opening bell. • Trading ends every afternoon at 4 p.m. with the closing bell. • Famous people are often invited to ring the bells. • George Washington’s inauguration in 1789 took place on the balcony of Federal Hall in Wall Street. • The busiest corner of the district is the intersection of Wall and Broad Street. • There are 2,764 listed securities in the New York Stock Exchange, the largest in the world. • The stock exchange has grown from 533 seats in 1868 to 1,366 seats now. • The New York Stock Exchange was not the first stock exchange in America; the Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790. • The first listed company on the New York Stock Exchange was the Bank of New York.

Where in the World

France

France is the largest country in Western Europe, and it is a little smaller than the state of Texas. It is a beautiful country with a long history and a diverse landscape. The country is famous for its wines and cheeses. Each region in France produces a different style of wine and/or cheese for which it is known. This is so important to the French that they even have an official organization that guarantees that a cheese or wine actually comes from its specific region and is made by craftsmen rather than in factories. The organization that guarantees origin is called Appellation d’Origine Protégé (AOP). The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous monuments in the world. It is a giant and beautiful iron tower in the heart of Paris. It was created by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair. At first, many people were against the tower, some even called it ugly. But now people from all over the world come to the city just to see it. The tower is 1,050 feet tall. In France, it is sometimes referred to as La dame de fer, which means the Iron Lady, and millions of people visit and climb it each year. Here are some interesting facts about France: • Paris is the capital of France. • The official language is French. • They use the Euro for money. • The official motto translates to “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” • France was ruled by kings until 1789 when a revolution transformed it into a republic. • France is famous for its delicious food. • Escargots, or snails, are a popular dish in France. • The oldest café in the world is in Paris. It is called the Le Procope and was opened in 1694. • The official name of the country is The French Republic. • France has the world’s tallest bridge, the Millau Bridge, which is 1,125 feet above the ground. • France comes from a Latin word “Francia.” This translates to “country of the Franks.” • More people visit France than any other country in the world. • Paris used to be a Roman city called “Lutetia.” • French toast isn’t actually French; it is named after Joseph French.

Where in the World

Iraq

Iraq is a 168,754-square-mile country located in the Middle East. It is surrounded by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria and Turkey. People have been thriving in this region for thousands of years, which is why Iraq is nicknamed “the cradle of civilization.” The Sumerians were the first people to create civilizations in Iraq around 3000 B.C. After the Sumerians, Iraq was ruled by many different people, including the Babylonians, the Persians, the Arabs, the Ottomans and the British. Iraq finally became independent in 1932. Each group of ruling people left its mark on the history and culture of Iraq, so this long history makes for a rich and varied culture among the people. For centuries and through many different rulers, Iraq was the center of wealth, knowledge and commerce in empires. Some of the most important inventions in human history have come from Iraq. The Sumerians created the first forms of writing called cuneiform, which is created by pressing sticks into clay tablets. The Sumerian king Hammurabi is also recorded as creating the very first system of laws. The invention of the wheel and measuring the day in two sets of 12 hours are also thought to have come from Iraq. Here are some facts about Iraq • 40 percent of Iraq is desert. • 30 percent is mountain range. • The two major mountain ranges in Iraq are the Taurus and the Zagros. • The two major rivers that most people live near are the Tigris and the Euphrates. • It used to be known as Mesopotamia. • Most of the country is Muslim. • Baghdad is the capital and home to 6 million people. • It is traditional to eat with one’s right hand. • The national dish is Masgouf or impaled fish. • The national cookie is Kleicha, which means circle or wheel. • Iraq has never competed in the winter Olympics. • Soccer is a popular sport in Iraq. • One of the major exports is the fruit date. • The first written story, the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” is about a king trying to save an Iraqi city. • The official name is the Republic of Iraq. • The national bird is the chucker partridge. • Iraq’s currency is the dinar.

Kids

FAO Schwarz/New York City

New York City is a metropolis that is located in the northern state of New York. It is one of the largest cities in the world and is full of businesses and people. Perhaps the busiest and most popular part of New York City is Times Square. This area began as the theatre district during the First World War and has grown ever since. There are still many theatres and performers in the area, but now there are even more stores and restaurants. One of the most famous stores in Times Square is FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the United States. Here are some facts about FAO Schwarz: • It was established 150 years ago. • Frederick August Otto Schwarz, a German immigrant, started the store. • It is famous for its incredible displays. • The first store that Schwarz opened was with his brother and was called the “Toy Bazaar.” • Fredrick moved to New York in 1870. • The store has always been known for having incredibly high-quality toys. • The store has moved to bigger locations several times. • The store is now so famous, it is also a tourist destination in New York. • The store was named “FAO Schwarz” in 1880. • The store moved to its current location in1986. • For years, FAO Schwarz has been known for being the first store to premiere new toys. • Even today they usually are the first to have a new toy. • “Toys R Us” now owns the company. • Mr. Schwarz spent 50 years working with toys. • The store has a large piano that children can play by stepping on it. This part of the city is famous for its huge bright flashing signs, street performers and giant stores. It is so famous for the huge flashing billboards that now all buildings are required to be covered in them. Visit the square any time, day or night, and it is guaranteed to be bustling with crowds of people exploring the many stores, theatres and restaurants. Though some of these stores may have the same names as ones that you can find in your mall, those in Times Square are much, much larger.

Category - Where in the World

Iceland

Bangor, Maine?

Washington D.C.

Switzerland

India

Sweden

Wall St.

France

Iraq

FAO Schwarz/New York City

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